Angelonia plant named ‘Balarcwite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Angelonia  plant named ‘Balarcwite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers having a green-colored throat, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Angeloniaangustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Balarcwite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAngelonia plant botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balarcwite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during November 2005. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Angelonia cultivars having large flowers, unique flowercoloration, continuous flowering, and a moderately vigorous, freelybranching, and upright to semi-upright growth habit.

The new Angelonia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Angeloniaangustifolia breeding selection designated 355-2, not patented,characterized by its light lavender blue-colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, low vigor, and semi-upright growth habit. Themale (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Angeloniaangustifolia breeding selection designated 1549, not patented,characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage,and vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated cross-pollination during December 2006 in a controlledenvironment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceDecember 2006 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstratedthat the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balarcwite’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Angelonia plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers having a green-colored throat;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower size, flower color, and vigor, and from plants ofthe male parent primarily in flower size and growth habit. Plants of thenew cultivar have larger flowers than plants of either parent.

Of the many commercially available Angelonia cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is ANGELFACE White ‘Anwhitim’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 19,866. However, in side by side comparisons, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Anwhitim’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a glabrous stem texture that        is different from the densely glandular pubescent stem texture        of plants of ‘Anwhitim’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller throat, as measured        by length and width, than plants of ‘Anwhitim’;    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have light green-colored teeth        unlike plants of ‘Anwhitim’; and    -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have more green coloration on the        inner and outer throat than plants of ‘Anwhitim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balarcwite’. Theplants were grown in 4-inch pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balarcwite’ .

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balarcwite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in March 2011 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouseunder conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Theplants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4-inch pots for 11 weeksutilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia angustifolia cultivar    Balarcwite.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding            selection designated 355-2, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding            selection designated 1549, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            semi-upright.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 26.1 cm. Width: Approximately 23.2 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Moderate,            somewhat brittle. Length: Approximately 23.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of young            stem: 144B. Color of mature stem: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 18. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Widely serrate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 6.7 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            1.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage:            137A with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface            of young and mature foliage: N137B with midvein of 145B,            other venation indistinguishable. Color of upper surface of            mature foliage: Closest to 139A with indistinguishable            venation.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balarcwite’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            7 to 10 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal raceme. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 3. Fragrance: Slight, sweet. Length or            height: Approximately 14.8 cm. Width: Approximately 6.1 cm.            Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:            Approximately 10.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Solitary, zygomorphic.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            inflorescence: Approximately 10.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globular. Length:            Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Color            of upper surface: 145C. Color of lower surface: 145B.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate. Aspect: Facing outward. Length:            Approximately 3.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.8 cm. Depth:            Approximately 9.0 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, petals are fused at base forming a            throat and consisting of an upper lip with 2 petals and a            lower lip with 3 petals, consisting of 2 lateral petals and            one central petal. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire, somewhat            wavy. Apex: Obtuse.        -   Upper lip.—Length of petals from throat: Approximately            1.0 cm. Width of each petal: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous.            Color of upper surface when fully open: Purer white than            155D. Color of lower surface when fully open: Purer white            than 155D.        -   Lower lip, lateral petals.—Length of petals from throat:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of each petal: Approximately            1.4 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely glandular            pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of            upper surface when fully open: Purer white than 155D. Color            of lower surface when fully open: Purer white than 155D.        -   Lower lip, central petal.—Length from the palate:            Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Texture of            lower surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when fully            open: Purer white than 155D. Color of lower surface when            fully open: Purer white than 155D.        -   Throat.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately:            8.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Mixture of colorless and 144A,            transparent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous. Color of            inner surface: Purer white than 155D with an overlay of            144A. Color of outer surface: 144D. Palate color: 144A.            Palate texture: Glabrous. Teeth color: 145D.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Star, cupped. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of            upper and lower surfaces: Closest to 137A.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.            Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per            flower. Filament length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament            color: Purer white than 155D, opaque. Sparsely glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Anther            shape: Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther            color: 155D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 155D.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Stigma shape: Pointed. Stigma length:            Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: Colorless, opaque. Style            length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Style color: Colorless,            opaque. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary texture:            Glabrous. Ovary color: 145B.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Angelonia has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plantnamed ‘Balarcwite’, substantially as herein shown and described.